Where to stay

Bridging the gap between ancient historic sites and haute couture, Tridente and Trevi are where to stay for top shopping. From your hotel here, you can check out the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, then browse the designer boutiques of the famed Via Condotti. Via del Corso is the place to stay for internationally recognizable brands and high-end Roman designers. Book a room near Via del Tritone to be close to a huge luxury-brand store with everything from clothing and makeup to home décor. If you're seeking shopping away from the usual tourist spots, shops that are popular with the locals and more pocketbook-friendly, consider staying near Via Cola di Rienzo.

Ancient Rome is a perfect area to stay in for the city's most celebrated historic sights, from the Colosseum to Palatine Hill. Hotels in Monti and Celio exude a cozy, neighborhood ambience while still being close to major sights. Other options for convenient sightseeing are Rome City Center (also known as Centro Storico) and Campitelli. Cross the Tiber River and reserve a room near Vatican City, home to St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Gardens. On this side of the river, quieter Prati is a wonderful spot if you'd like to sightsee and shop like a local. North of the city center, Tridente and the area around the Spanish Steps have good accommodations choices for sightseeing convenience and proximity to upscale shopping along the Via Condotti.

Foodies stay in lively Trastevere for its diverse eateries in a quintessential Roman atmosphere. You'll find everything here from tiny, riverside trattorie to hipster bars and award-winning gourmet restaurants. Hotels in Pigna are close to noteworthy dining that ranges from fashionable restaurants to homely spots where locals go. For authentic Roman cuisine, stay in Testaccio, once home to the city's working class and now an up-and-coming dining scene with plenty of old-style trattorias to choose from. Book a hotel in Esquilino, where there are pastry-filled cafes, one of Rome's oldest gelato shops, ethnic eateries and a huge fresh food market. Consider staying in San Giovanni, if only for the fact that it has some of the best tiramisu in the country. There are more produce markets in this area than restaurants, making it a great place to buy picnic items before touring the city's historic sights. Outlying Aurelio and Garbatella are good choices if you want a glimpse of the local lifestyle.

Book a room in Trastevere to live, eat and party like a local. Historical sights are just across the water, and for evening entertainment, there are countless wine bars, restaurants and nightclubs strung along the neighborhood's cobblestone alleys. To mingle with Rome's bohemian folks and shop for local street crafts, reserve a hotel in Monti, set seemingly (and refreshingly) by itself in the middle of the city. Stay in Trieste for a cool, university vibe. It's just removed enough from the tourist traffic, yet close enough to sightsee when you're ready. Feel like a Roman yourself in Ponte, Parione or Regola, home to many of the city's most stylish residents. Sant'Angelo is a great choice for accommodations that have a more intimate village feel yet are still close to everything the city offers.

To be close to the Vatican and all its Renaissance treasures, book a hotel in Prati or Borgo The Vatican Museums are nearby, boasting incredible works of art and the Sistine Chapel. Hotels in Prati are also convenient to St. Peter's Basilica and the intriguing Castel Sant'Angelo building. Nearby Trionfale is also a top spot to stay close to the Vatican, the Hadrian Mausoleum, Piazza Cavour and is convenient for shopping along Via Cola di Rienzo and Via Ottaviano.